What Does 사촌 (Sachon) Mean in Korean?
After this page, you can recognize 사촌 (sachon) when you hear or read it, and use it correctly for any cousin.
10-Second Answer
사촌 (sachon) means "cousin" — one word covers any cousin, regardless of age or gender, unlike English which has no equivalent single-word gap to fill but Korean still gets more specific when it matters: 외사촌 (oe-sachon) is a maternal-side cousin, while a paternal-side cousin is usually just 사촌. In casual conversation, plain 사촌 is almost always enough.
Quick Examples
이 사람은 제 사촌이에요.
i sarameun je sachonieyo.
This person is my cousin.
No need to specify older/younger or male/female — 사촌 covers all of them.
사촌이랑 같이 컸어요.
sachon-irang gachi keosseoyo.
I grew up together with my cousin.
Cousins are often close in Korean extended-family culture, especially when grandparents live nearby.
저는 외사촌이 세 명 있어요.
jeoneun oesachon-i se myeong isseoyo.
I have three cousins on my mom's side.
외사촌 (oe-sachon) — specifically a maternal-side cousin, from 외 ("outside," the mother's side of the family).
사촌 vs 외사촌 vs 친사촌
| Word | Side of family | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 사촌 (sachon) | Unspecified / general | The default word — safe to use for any cousin when the side doesn't matter |
| 친사촌 (chin-sachon) | Paternal (father's side) | 친 ("blood/paternal") specifies the father's side — less commonly said aloud since 사촌 alone often implies it |
| 외사촌 (oe-sachon) | Maternal (mother's side) | 외 ("outside") marks the mother's side — this distinction actually gets used regularly |
One English Word, No Korean Splitting Needed
Korean kinship terms are famous for being more specific than English almost everywhere else — 형 vs 오빠, 누나 vs 언니, 이모 vs 고모 all split by gender or side of family. 사촌 is a rare case where Korean is actually simpler than expected: no separate words for an older or younger cousin, and no gender split — just 사촌, with the maternal/paternal distinction as an optional add-on rather than a requirement.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Trying to translate "first cousin" or "second cousin" literally
Korean doesn't split cousins by degree the way English formally does — 사촌 covers first cousins, and more distant ones use separate compound terms rather than a "second cousin" equivalent.
Mistake #2 — Assuming 외사촌 is rude or unusual to say
It's completely normal, everyday vocabulary — Korean families distinguish maternal and paternal relatives more consistently than English speakers are used to.
Mini Quiz
1. Does 사촌 change based on whether the cousin is older or younger?
2. What does 외사촌 specifically mean?
3. If the side of the family doesn't matter, which word is safest to use?
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
Korean Family Titles Beyond Mom and Dad
사촌 is one piece of a much bigger extended-family vocabulary system — see the fuller picture here.
Will you remember this tomorrow?
Add it to your review queue — the daily session brings it back before you forget.
Start today's study →Last updated: 2026-08-18 · Written and reviewed by a native Korean speaker.